Better Goal Setting for the New Year

Image from The Graphics Fairy

     New Year’s Eve is coming up on us fast, so let’s talk about resolutions. 

    I see a lot of people talk about how resolutions can be setting ourselves up for failure. And they are not wrong. 

    Other’s point out that you can start making changes any time, you don’t need to wait for a big event. They are also not wrong. 

    But my experience with NaNoWriMo as well as other challenges has shown me there is something to be gained from a group of people embarking on their challenges at the same time. There is support. There is excitement. And it almost feels like there is more energy in the effort. 

    So if it is almost New Year’s there’s no harm in starting then. But if it is June don’t wait half the year to start. 

    I’ve had a lot of experience with goals. I’ve had my share of trouble too. Between my health and my mental health some methods feel like an uphill battle. 

Photo taken by me.

    I’ve seen a lot of people talk about SMART goals. 

    Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-related goals. These methods can be helpful in some areas. And if these methods work for you, go for it. Thrive. But I haven’t really found them all that helpful to me. Not in an overall sense. 

    I’m a spoonie. I almost never know how much energy I am going to have. And I don’t know how my depression is going to affect me from day to day. Failing a very time sensitive, specific goal can trigger my depression. Even if I failed it because I was bedridden. 

    Finding methods that work for me has been really important. 

Image from NaNoWriMo

    As I learned with NaNoWriMo you don’t have to focus on number goals as much if you are making strides at your habits and doing more than you would have without the goal in mind. 

    Mind you, here I am talking about setting a goal, but not holding it against yourself if you don’t make the finish line. As long as you still moved in that direction. 

    I’ve also found success in having fuzzier goals. Broader. Looser. Goals that aim more at the heart of the matter or at a feeling. Getting myself going in a direction rather than dates and numbers and opportunities to fail because I didn’t know the parameters of the situation. 

    One thing that seems to be in this same direction is themes. I first heard about themes from Lavendaire and then from CGP Grey. I think he really delved into a good explanation of how and why they work. He also does even more discussion on themes with his co-host, Myke Hurley, on their podcast, Cortex. 

    I’d explain themes more, but I think they do a very good job. If nothing else watch Grey’s 6 minute video on the topic. 

    Another thing you can look into if themes sound useful is systems. Rowena Tsai talked about them in some of her videos earlier this year. 

    I’ve also started leaning away from trying to word my goals so other people understand them. And more often using language that really speaks to me and my heart. 

    Anyway. Whatever it is you decide to do. Set goals, don’t set goals, pick a theme. Just remember that you should do what works for you. Because not all advice is for everyone. What works for 9 out of 10 people, doesn’t work for 1 out of 10 people.  

Image from The Graphics Fairy